Western Weddings are More than the Dress and Boots

The Western dress is the most important component because it can be a little tricky. The Western wedding dress should be casual, but not so casual that you can’t tell that you are the bride. The dresses are usually characterized as having a lot of lace, and they usually have a princess neckline. You should think of the character, Sissy, in Urban Cowboy when you think about your Western wedding dress. 

The dresses can be long or short, but many people choose a tea length in order to show off their cowboy boots. The men are usually in cowboy hats, although these do not have to be limited to the men, and they are usually donning a bolo tie, which is a piece of leather that is bound by an ornamental piece like silver or gold leaving two pieces of leather hanging down. Men have been known to wear jeans at Western weddings, and women have been known to sport bandanas with their wedding dresses, but this all depends on how casual, and how Western you want to be. I would say that the standard are the cowboy boots for everyone, even the guests.

You can also do things to make the entire day more casual, like changing out of your wedding gear into jeans for the reception. If you make the reception casual then the guests can feel comfortable coming dressed however they choose, and you can change out of your dress later and be more comfortable. You can characterize your reception with small country touches like having a barbecue themed reception. You could serve dishes like baked beans, pork, barbecue chicken, and mashed potatoes buffet style. A Western wedding should be easier than many of the other themes that you can choose from, simply because it is not as formal of a theme. You can also make the reception an outdoor event, which will make things go more smoothly. 

Remember to check with the weather, and to also have a backup plan just in case it decides to rain on your party. You can have a church that is decorated for the theme, but there are more things that you can do outside. Depending on what your budget is, you may decide to have the guests sit on bales of hay for the reception, or you may want the guests to be transported by wagon if your reception is close by. 

Decorations can be fun for Western themed weddings. The tables can be decorated with cowboy hats turned upside down with flowers inside of them. You can also buy some sheriff badges, toy guns, or anything with a Western theme that can be thrown onto the tables and enjoyed by guest. If you think that your guests will appreciate it, set up a photographer in one of the corners of the reception area. You can buy some old Western gear, and your guest can enjoy getting pictures made that look like the Old Wild Western days. When you go through all of your gifts and send out the thank you notes, you can attach your guests' pictures to the thank you notes for an extra special gift. 

You can also have activities to play if you are having your wedding outside like a game of horseshoes, or you could have a roping section for guests to try. You may even want to hire some horses to take kids on rides while the adults are toasting and dancing. This would also be a perfect wedding to have a band instead of hiring a DJ. The band is usually cheaper, and if all you want is one genre of music it will be easier to find someone to play.

The best thing about Western weddings is not just the dresses or the wedding itself. The best part is the fun environment that you create for you and your spouse and your friends and family. Everyone can relax, and you may actually have a stress free day instead of a harrowing experience that many brides have.